MacGregorSailors.com

I am about to install my new electrical panel, dual batteries, VHF/DSC and Stereo & Speakers. I imagine I will need a fishtape to get the wires pulled through all the places that I need to pull wires through.

I have never seen a fishtape and of course never used one.

Does anyone have a recommendation of a fishtape that will be fit for purpose for these applications? Cost? Where to buy? Etc...

And tips on using one?

Thanks,
Jim

home depot or lowes electrical dept. Comes is a reel made of either plastic or steel about 10 inches in diameter.

I'm not good at it , so have no advice worth giving, except maybe to get one no longer than you need. I absolutely hate using them. they get sharp spots that can cut your hands, they are always twisting some way that is wrong, they are dirty, and really don't work well for me.

Jim,

An old tape measure with the hook cut off will work. A tape is not too hard to work with. Like most boat things it just takes a little practice.

There was a thread awhile back about using two magnets to pull a sting across the overhead.

While you are pulling, I did, and would recommend that you, pull a nylon string thru first. Cut it at more than twice the length and anchor each end. Then, if you ever decide to pull a second wire you won't have to go thru those contortions again.

Mechanics wire get the thicker heavier stuff not the light stuff you can bend it , shape it , twist it , turn it as you feed it into where ever you are trying to reach ! when running wires up to the area above the mirror on the S/B side of the D/B trunk I ran extra wires while I was there
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0002-3.jpg

same again above the S/B side aft berth entrance where the little round mirror was for access to the winch mount bolts I installed a another switch panel there also
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0009-1.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0008-3.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010010.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010027.jpg

on the P/S aft berth area where my 110v, main hydro panel is you can also see were I ran two extra 10g red/black wires up to the main 12v panel above for future use
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010072.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010073.jpg

Now the Pedestal have fun
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010003.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0013-1.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010016.jpg

Hope this gives you some Idea's

J

There was a thread awhile back about using two magnets to pull a sting across the overhead.

Steel washer attached to the string of course. I spent 30 minutes trying to pull a stainless washer once

dumba***

Am I too late? I have been gone for a few days , dealing with Medical problems for ageing In-Laws......
There are basically 3 types of fish tapes. Blue Flat Metal Coiled steel.( if your ever on a plane going down over the ocean... you'll wish you had one of these.. Because the dang things always catch on something no matter where you use them ) There is a Brass Wound Sparky or Slinky tape both are really nice to work with , but very expensive to buy, and not good for long distance pushes. There are also Round Teflon tapes to be had , and they are non-conductive . We also use Fiberglass rods that screw together in 4 foot sections .
An old flexible fishing pole would work well IMHO and my Magnet and a String and Washer trick works well too.
What you'll need no matter your choice of tools ....patience
No matter what you fish through that space , drag along an extra string for later, as there will no doubt someday be, a later

I just finished up rewiring my X and had no luck with my electrical fish tape, I ended up using a four foot batten to get through the floation foam. I also gave up on the port side channels and routed all the wires through the channel for the hatch rails.

Uncle Jim wrote:I just finished up rewiring my X and had no luck with my electrical fish tape, I ended up using a four foot batten to get through the floation foam. I also gave up on the port side channels and routed all the wires through the channel for the hatch rails.

How large of an eye / end did you put on it?

I am buying a 25' fishtape from Home Depot (or my Dad is going to pick one up for me as I need it my first day back).

Klein Tools 25' Fish Tape

It is only $9.99 so no big investment lost if it turns out completely useless.

Thanks for all the tips on other techniques.

Cheers,
Jim
T-minus 5 days until I am back in Florida...

jim get an old wire coat hanger,straighten it out and use that,you will also need some PVC tape to tape he cables to the wire or fishtape,i pulled all of the cables in glissando using the above method.

florida in three days

c130king wrote:I am buying a 25' fishtape from Home Depot (or my Dad is going to pick one up for me as I need it my first day back).

Klein Tools 25' Fish Tape

It is only $9.99 so no big investment lost if it turns out completely useless.

Thanks for all the tips on other techniques.

Cheers,
Jim
T-minus 5 days until I am back in Florida...

Yep those new bullet ends are very handy and save a lot of time ... both with pushing and time spent making a proper end.

I can find Phish on CD, but not on tape anymore..

Kelly Hanson East wrote:I can find Phish on CD, but not on tape anymore..

Silly boy.

THIS is a fishtape:

Divecoz wrote: How large of an eye / end did you put on it?

it had about a 1in bend to it. I was able to get it about 3/4 of the way form the port side channel (just forward of the galley) under the windows and lost it when it starded to make it up to the elect pannel to the port side of the hatchway. I was also attempting to pull it through with the existing wires but that didn't help at all.

Now that bullet shaped end might have done the trick, but then we get in to packing heat while onboard and this aint the backroom